Convertible high chair.



W. E. McLAREN.

CONVERTIBLE HIGH CHMR. APPuc TmNnLED JUNE 28,1918.

1,299,366, Q Patented Apr. 1,1919.

2 SHEEfS-SHEET 1.

' n l INVENTOR.

' AT'TRNEY W. E. NicLAREN.

CONVERTIBLE HIGH CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28.1918.

1,299,366. Patented Apr. 1,1919.

7 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. liq/2 INVENTOR A TTORNEY as a toy, or in play,

WILLIAM E. McLAREN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONVERTIBLE. HIGH CHAIR. v

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filed June 28, 1918. Serial No. 242,333.

useful Improvements in Convertible High Chairs, tion.

This invention relates to improvements in a convertible article which may be used practically for the service of children, or if de sired, so that it can be employed by them and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement and operation of the varlous parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a highly useful household article, which shall be simple and inexpensive in of which the following is a specificaconstruction, strong, durable, and eflicient in operation, which can be used practically as a high chair, a bassinet or cradle, or a cage or keeper for children, from one to another of which devices it can be readily and quickly converted, or if desired, it can be constructed, of proper size and material, and be used by children as a toy for dolls, in which event, the same construction and convertibility will be maintained. Another important object is the provision of an artlcle of the above named general character which can be constructed almost, if not entirely,

of wooden parts, thereby eliminating the expense of metallic parts. A further object is to so arrange. and combine parts of the device that certain fastenlng means thereof 7 will perform several functions without any alterations therein,

but by simply changing their positions- Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the sub-joined description and explana tion.

1 device showing the parts in the positions they may be caused to occupy when the de- In the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the vice is to be used as a high chair.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device showing its parts by continuous lines arranged for its use as a trundling keeper or cage and by dotted lines as a bassinet or cradle.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 8 3 of Fig. 2 looking the direction indicated by the arrows.

spondin tangular I use of wooden dowels manner that the members opposite ends of the members 15 are employed Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken on line 14 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows show ing means for supporting and holding the platform or table portion of the high chair in its horizontal position, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmental view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows showing by full lines one of the rockers of the cradle held in operative position and by dotted lines the position in which it will be maintained when not in operative position.

Like numerals of reference refer to correparts throughout the different views 0 the drawings.

The body of the device consists of a. recframe composed of two pairs 7 and 8 of side members or rails spaced apart in parallelism with one another, so that when the device is used as a high chair said members will be located in an upright position, but when it is used as a keeper or cradle said members will be located in a horizontal position as will be readily understood by c which may be secured to said members in any desired manner, but preferably by the 10 and as is clearly drawings in such a 7 and 8 will be held at substantially equal distances apart in the form of a rectangular figure. The 7 and 8 are connected at their front or upper portion and sides by means of bars or rails 11 which may also be held in place by means of dowels shown in Fig. l of the 10 as before mentioned and in such a way as to form three sides of a rectangular figure. .Each of the bars or rails 11 is provided on its inner surface with a longitudinally extended ledge or flange 12, see Figs. 3 and 4, to support a platform 13 and a pivoted back or end piece 14 when in their folded positions. The members 7 and 8 are connected in pairs by transversely disposed rods or rungs 15 and similar rods or rungs rear or upper and lower rails 9 at the end of the device opposite the end members 13 and 14 above mentioned. The end piece or platform 13 is pivotally secured at its front portion to the rails or bars 11 and by prefertime has its rear edge forwardly curved as to connect the front and at 16, see Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which view it will be observed and understood that themember 13 can be turned upwardly on its pivot to permit a child to be seated on the seat 17 by passing its body through the frame composed of the rails 11 and theback or end piece 14 which is pivotally secured at its rear end to and between the upper portions of the rails 8 of the body of the device. l ixed'between the members 8 and extended from a point near .the pivots 18 0f the end piece or-back 14 i. a board 19 which extends at its other end to av point located at acousiderable distance from the back 14. Near the opposite ends of the members 8 on which theend piece ()llJtLCk 141 is mounted, a board 20 is. secured to and between said members and in conjunction with the board 19 serves to strongly .brace or connect said members together. Pivot-ally mounted between the members 8 at a point near the inner end of the board 19 is the seat forming member 17 of the chair, which is of su'l'licientdimem sions to close the opening betweenthe inner ends of the boards 19 and 20 and the rear or lower side rails or members 8 when it is desired to use the article as a bassinet or keeper. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, each of the side rails or members 8 is provided on its inner surface with a ledge 21 on which the seat member 17 will rest when extended between the rails or members 8 in which position it can be held by means of a locking bar 22 which is pivotally mounted at its middle portion to the lower or rear surface of the seat member 17 and has each of itsends provided with an extension to overlap or engage the rear or lower surface of the members 8 as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. "When it is desired to use the device a chair the seat member 17 can be released from the members or rails 8 by turning the lockingbar 22 in the proper direction, when it is obvious that the seat member 17 can be turned on its pivot so as to assume a horizontalposition as shown by continuous lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings in which position it can be supported by means of the locking bar which when turned to assume a par allel position with the front edge of the seat member 17 will verlap a pair of "the rods 15 onthe sides of thebody and thus support said seat member. Journaled on each of the rails or members 8 neareach of its ends is a roller or wheel 24r'the axles 25 of which may be of wood or metal as desired. Pivotally secured to the'members or rails 8 between each pair of the wheels 2 1 is a rocker 26 each of which has its end portions 27 extended slightlyoutwardly of the rails or members 8 as is shown in different views of the drawings. Each of the rockers 26 has secured to its inner edge a cleat 27. see Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings which cleats are of sufli inoperative positions,

by means of said buttons to engage when-said rockers are placed in their operative positions as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 oiEthe drawings and by continuous lines in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. lVhen in their operative positions, the bases 27 of the rockers may be engaged by the overlapping ends 28-01 fastening buttons'29 one or which is secured to the rear or ilower surface of the floor or "boards '19 and 20 of the device. T he rockers can be he'ld'inthe'ir as shown by continu- 2 of thedrawings, for it willbe seen and understood in Figs. 1 and 5 that .each of these buttons is provided at its ends with extensions 28 and .28, the extensions 28being for the purpose of overlapping and engaging the bases 27 of the rockers when the one lines in Figs. 1 and latter are in their operative positions, and

the extensions 28 being for the purpose of contacting with the said bases when the rockers are intheir inoperative positions.

From the foregoing and. by reference to the drawings, itv will be readily understood and clearly seen that when the device is used as a high chair, the vend member 1 1 which forms a portion of the "back of said chair can be raised from a horizontal position 'to a vertical, position as shownin Fig. 1, when by turning the fastening button 29. so that its longer extension 28 will engage the back 14-. sa id back will be therebyheld in its upright position. The seat member 17 can th b turned from its dottedline position as shown .in Fig. 1, to thatshown'iby continuous lines in said figure and held "in its latter position by means of the bar 22 engaging the rods 15 on-the body of the device, which bar can be manipulated as;above set forth. In order to readily place the'child in a sitting postureon the seat 1'7,the platform or table 13 may :be turned upwardly 011 its pivot, thus openingthe entire upper portion of the body. After the childhas beenseated in th chair. the platform 13 can be lowered, and if desired said platform can be provided at one or both of its side edges with a spring pressed bolt 30, see Fig. 4t which is adapted a socket 31 seated in the innersurface of the rail 11 adajcen't to said bo'lt. The spring 32 which actuates said bolt is located in a suitable opening 33 in the side edge of the platform 13 and will normally holdthe bolt 30 in engagement with the socket 31, but on upward movementof the platform 13 will yield sufliciently to allow, the disengagement of said bolt "from its socket. If desired the end member or back 14: maybe provided at one or both of its side edges with similar holding means for "fastening said end member or back in position between the side rails 11 ot'the body ofthe device.

When the device is to be used as a bassinet or keeper the end members 13 and 14 should be closed and the seat member 17 released from its seat forming position and turned therefrom to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which position it can be locked by the bar 22 as above stated. When the parts are arranged as last above described it is apparent that the body of the article Will have a sectional floor or bottom on Which bed clothing can be placed if de sired. It is also manifest that by adjusting the rockers to their operative positions and so fastening them, the device can be used as a rocking cradle, or if desired the rockers may be turned to their inoperative positions and there fastened, When the device can be used as a trundling or Wheeled cage or keeper.

It is further obvious that by the improved, novel construction and arrangement of the various parts of the device, the fastening buttons and locking bar are each adapted to perform several functions Without any alteration, but simply by changing their posi tions. While I do not desire to limit myself to the use of Wooden parts for securing the various members of the device in position on the body thereof, yet it is obvious that Wooden parts exclusively may be used, with the exception of the spring actuated bolt and its members, and that on account of the difliculty and expense of obtaining metal parts, at the present time, this is highly desirable.

Having thus fully described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having an opening extended from end to end thereof, of a sectional closure located opposite said opening, one of said sections pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted for movement therein, and means on said section to lock it to the frame in alinement with the other sections, and to engage the frame to support said section When extended into the frame.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having an opening extended from end to end thereof, of a sectional closure located opposite said opening, one of said sections pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted for movement therein, and a bar pivotally mounted on said section to lock it to the frame When in alinement with the other sections and to engage parts of the frame to support said section thereon in a transverse position.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination With a rectangular frame having one of its sides open, of a sectional closure for the side opposite said opening, one

Gopies a! this patent may be obtained for five of said sections pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted for movement therein, means mounted on said section to lock it to the frame when in alinement with the other sections and to engage parts of the frame support said section in a transverse position, and a sectional closure for one end of the frame, at least one of said sections thereof being pivotally secured near one of its. ends to the frame.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination With a rectangular frame having one of its sides open, of a sectional closure for the side opposite said opening, one of said sections pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted for movement therein, means mounted on said section to engage parts of the frame to support said section 1n a transverse position, a sectional closure for one end of the frame, one of said sections being pivotally secured near one of its ends to the frame and means carried by the frame to hold the last named pivoted section in a longitudinal position With respect to the frame.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame having an opening extended from end to end thereof, a closure located opposite said opening, a rocker transversely and pivotally mounted on the closed portion of the frame near each end thereof, each of said rockers having a 95 flanged base on its edge adjacent to the closure, and a fastening button pivotally mounted on the closure near each end thereof and having extensions at its ends, one of said extensions adapted to engage flanges of said rockers to hold them in their operative positions and the other of said extensions adapted to abut against the flanges or bases of the rockers to hold them in their inoperative positions.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination With a rectangular frame adapted to be supported in an upright position, of a sectional closure for one of the Walls of said frame, the intermediate section 110 of said closure pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted for movement therein, means mounted on said section to engage parts of the frame to support said section in a transverse and horizontal position, a sec- 151 tional closure for the upper end of the frame, each of said last named sections being pivotally secured near their opposite ends to the frame, and means carried by the frame to hold one of said pivoted sections in 120 an upright position.

WILLIAM E. MoLAREN.

Witnesses:

Cams. 0. TILLMAN, C. CASEY.

cents each, by addressing the "commissioner o! Batons.

Washington, D. g 

